Produce Buyer

Are you looking to make a career change to an exciting company? This exciting opportunity as a Produce Buyer offers a competitive salary plus an excellent benefits package including medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, paid PTO etc. Does this position match your future career goals? Then this Produce Buyer role could be the right fit for you.

Responsibilities:

• Lead and communicate produce category strategies to the sales team to support revenue and margin objectives.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for direct suppliers, negotiating pricing, product mix, promotions, advertising, services, and vendor support.
• Continuously evaluate and identify optimal sources of supply to ensure competitive costs, superior quality, and reliable service levels.
• Select and procure commodities from growers and the open market based on customer demand, market conditions, and product knowledge.
• Inspect and verify the quality of inbound products in alignment with individual buyer specifications and company standards.
• Participate in daily warehouse walkthroughs to inspect, grade, and appraise agricultural commodities, assessing quality, value, and yield.
• Maintain accurate inventory count sheets and manage weekly availability guides to support efficient store ordering.
• Oversee inventory levels, shrink, and service metrics to meet or exceed company performance expectations.
• Build, manage, and sustain strong, collaborative relationships with growers, vendors, and suppliers.
• Collaborate regularly with sales, warehouse, and transportation teams to ensure seamless operations and product flow.
• Monitor and analyze industry and business trends, maintaining awareness of market conditions, food safety requirements, technology advancements, and weather patterns across growing regions.
• Conduct sales, margin, and profitability analyses; maintain pricing files and perform competitive price reviews.
• Identify and proactively introduce new and innovative products to customers.
• Secure promotional pricing and establish appropriate volumes to support promotional sales initiatives.
• Ensure all purchasing activities meet high quality standards and comply with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs).
• Travel occasionally as required, including seasonal travel.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Demonstrated commitment to delivering exceptional customer service at all times.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in produce buying, including mixed items; experience with organic and processed items preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of USDA standards and produce quality requirements.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills with the ability to collaborate across all organizational levels.
• Proven success negotiating with vendors and developing long-term supplier partnerships.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-volume, cross-functional environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Outlook, Word, and Excel.
• Strong multitasking, organizational, and time-management skills.
• Ability to prioritize work, meet deadlines, and achieve individual and team goals while maintaining high service and quality standards.

Benefits:

• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• 401K
• Paid Time Off
• Direct Hire

Salary: $30/hr

Ask for: Deb

Job Id: 25811

Ajulia Executive Search is a New Jersey based Executive Search Firm specializing in retained searches in multiple sectors, including Manufacturing, Finance, IT, Legal, and Pharmaceutical. We have a nationwide client base and offer services in temporary and direct hire placements.

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